File photo by Erik Fraser – Branson Dobrec

The McKinleyville Panthers and St. Bernard’s Crusaders were both in action at the Foothill tournament on Wednesday.

The Panthers lost 2-1 to Red Bluff and closed out the two-day tournament with a record of 2-1, having won two games on Tuesday, 7-6 over University Prep and 4-0 over Yreka.

The Crusaders, meanwhile, dropped two games on Wednesday, losing 9-0 to Orland and 2-0 to Foothill, and they closed out tourney play 0-3.

“I was happy with what we did. We were glad to be out on the field,” McKinleyville head coach Mike Dobrec said. “We’ve got to clean up some things on defense, but the kids hit pretty well.”

In the Panthers’ tournament opener against University Prep, Branson Dobrec led the way at the plate and finished 4-for-4 with a double and three RBIs, while Kolbey Stolpe was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

Tyson Bragg also had a double, while Bryce Sargent, Tenoch Tapia and Rhythm Green each added a base hit.

Starting pitcher Evan Fraser threw four innings for a no-decision, with Stolpe getting the win in relief.

Later in the day, Branson Dobrec was instrumental in the shutout victory over Yreka.

The senior pitcher threw six innings and allowed just one hit while striking out 12, with Stolpe again coming in in relief.

Neither pitcher got a whole lot of offensive support in the win, with the Panthers managing just three hits for the game, all of them by freshman Hunter Carper, who finished 3-for-3.

The Panthers also took advantage of five walks and four hit-by-pitches.

Tapia and Sargent each also had a pair of steals in the win.

Jackson Kelly threw five strong innings and struck out four for a no-decision in Wednesday’s loss, but according to Mike Dobrec the Red Bluff pitcher was outstanding and gave little away.

Bragg finished 1-for-1 with two walks, while Carper and Stolpe each finished 1-for-3.

The Crusaders, meanwhile, have struggled at the plate in their opening three games, managing just five hits in tournament play.

On Wednesday, they were held hitless against Orland.

They finished with four hits against Foothill, one each from Dylan Jimenez, Luke Brunton, Michael Manzi and Tyler Maples, with the latter also hitting a double in the tournament opener against Las Plumas on Tuesday.

Tyler Hinrichs threw three innings and did not allow any hits against Foothill, while Mateo Gutierrez gave up just three hits in three innings.

However, the two pitchers gave up nine walks combined.